Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose alleged yesterday that the Nigeria judiciary has been largely compromised. He alleged that financial inducement and political manipulations have made many judges and lawyers to twist judgment against the innocent.
Fayose said this at the Cathedral Church of Emmanuel, Oke-Isa, Ado Ekiti, during a church service of Ekiti State Legal Year. He said while the judiciary remains the last hope of the masses, the Nigerian judiciary has been failing largely in its duty as defender of the truth due to undue influence of political interferences and financial inducements.
“I make bold to say that the problem in Nigeria today is corruption. The judiciary has the power of life and death but this sensitive arm of government has been compromised and most judgments in Nigeria today are monetised. If the battle against corruption can be won between the Bar and the Bench, it will be won in the society.
“Due to the cancer of financial inducement that has eaten deep into the fabric of our judicial system, it is only in Nigeria that a political armed robber will orchestrate the trial of somebody before a corrupt judge, all in the name of waging anti-corruption war.
He added: “When there are glaring facts on the table of anti-corruption agencies, they will pretend not to see or look the other way especially if the culprit is a member of their political party or under the directive of power that be. That is why some judges are timid in giving judgments against the ruling party of the day.
“Such individuals are judged on the pages of newspapers and consequently, confirmed by the willing judges.”
Take for instance, after so many evidence before the EFCC that the bank account of the Yobe Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) was credited with money to influence the last governorship election, no action was taken because it is an APC-controlled state.
“ It is only in Nigeria that when banks rip-off institutions, they will negotiate with the judiciary.
It is only in Nigeria that judges will say they cannot deliver judgement due to the prevailing environment.
The corruption in the judiciary is so endemic that judges lobby to be appointed to serve in election petition tribunals in order to make money and as well influence judgement in favour of their political friends.
It gets more worrisome when facts have revealed that most of these judgements were written by lawyers for some compromised judges. Some judges also have cases assigned to them to do hatched job thereby descending into the arena of unwholesomeness.
“ Other instances are when judges have to recommend lawyers to clients. A lot of human rights activist lawyers have been working in agreement with some judges to destroy the lives of innocent Nigerians for pecuniary benefits and cheap popularity.
I therefore want our judges to understand that after here, there is another judgement. As for me, I have never and will never influence judgement for whatever reason. In Ekiti for instance, I don’t have the telephone numbers of judges.
“ If Nigeria is to move forward and for us to have a just society, the judiciary has a major role to play and must be seen to be doing so. This address does not imply that the judiciary is totally devoid of some credible and incorruptible judges whose conducts are commendable.”
Bishop Christopher Omotunde, Anglican Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, in his sermon, urged the lawyers to allow the spirit of God, as well as the fear of God, guide them in the discharge of their duty, saying whatever anyone sows, he would reap.
My address will be brief but it contains some truths that must be told. To every life, there is time and season. This is our time and season as leaders of the three arms of government in this state.
Despite all the challenges, our boat did not capsize. We are also in turbulent time financially as a state and a nation. But no matter how great the odds are, Ekiti will always have a leader. It is the duty of the leader to see that Ekiti comes first above all other considerations.
Such a leader will be expected to govern the people with the fear of God otherwise he will be referred to as a sectional leader.
Such a leader must also shun tribalism, religious and ethnic considerations, and above all consider politics as a tool and governance as service to the people. He must be seen to be just and equitable.
To me, to lead Ekiti in the right perspective is my priority.
I see a battle against an Ekiti man as a battle against all of us. The more reason why I advised senators from Ekiti not to oppose the approval of former Governor John Kayode Fayemi when being screened by the Senate as a minister. The swearing in of my Lord Justice Dele Omotoso as a judge was my first public assignment after inauguration in demonstration of my statemanship.
Equally, I appointed Mr Lawrence Babatope Ojo the then Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) as the Solicitor General despite all odds. The two gentlemen are both from the Bar.
I resisted entreaties from various quarters which wanted me to remove the Vice Chancellor of the Ekiti State University (EKSU) and the Provost of the College of Education, Ikere, simply because they were appointed by the Fayemi Administration.
Whereas, the likes of Professor Dipo Kolawole, Professor Bamidele and other senior officers of EKSU appointed by the PDP-led government were removed unjustly by the Fayemi Administration and till now, I have resisted pressures to tackle or remove some people including some judges over their ignoble roles in matters concerning me.
But I am not given to vengeance because vengeance belongs to God.
One thing is certain, the most potent power is one not used even though nothing stops you from using it.
Fayose said this at the Cathedral Church of Emmanuel, Oke-Isa, Ado Ekiti, during a church service of Ekiti State Legal Year. He said while the judiciary remains the last hope of the masses, the Nigerian judiciary has been failing largely in its duty as defender of the truth due to undue influence of political interferences and financial inducements.
“I make bold to say that the problem in Nigeria today is corruption. The judiciary has the power of life and death but this sensitive arm of government has been compromised and most judgments in Nigeria today are monetised. If the battle against corruption can be won between the Bar and the Bench, it will be won in the society.
“Due to the cancer of financial inducement that has eaten deep into the fabric of our judicial system, it is only in Nigeria that a political armed robber will orchestrate the trial of somebody before a corrupt judge, all in the name of waging anti-corruption war.
He added: “When there are glaring facts on the table of anti-corruption agencies, they will pretend not to see or look the other way especially if the culprit is a member of their political party or under the directive of power that be. That is why some judges are timid in giving judgments against the ruling party of the day.
“Such individuals are judged on the pages of newspapers and consequently, confirmed by the willing judges.”
Take for instance, after so many evidence before the EFCC that the bank account of the Yobe Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) was credited with money to influence the last governorship election, no action was taken because it is an APC-controlled state.
“ It is only in Nigeria that when banks rip-off institutions, they will negotiate with the judiciary.
It is only in Nigeria that judges will say they cannot deliver judgement due to the prevailing environment.
The corruption in the judiciary is so endemic that judges lobby to be appointed to serve in election petition tribunals in order to make money and as well influence judgement in favour of their political friends.
It gets more worrisome when facts have revealed that most of these judgements were written by lawyers for some compromised judges. Some judges also have cases assigned to them to do hatched job thereby descending into the arena of unwholesomeness.
“ Other instances are when judges have to recommend lawyers to clients. A lot of human rights activist lawyers have been working in agreement with some judges to destroy the lives of innocent Nigerians for pecuniary benefits and cheap popularity.
I therefore want our judges to understand that after here, there is another judgement. As for me, I have never and will never influence judgement for whatever reason. In Ekiti for instance, I don’t have the telephone numbers of judges.
“ If Nigeria is to move forward and for us to have a just society, the judiciary has a major role to play and must be seen to be doing so. This address does not imply that the judiciary is totally devoid of some credible and incorruptible judges whose conducts are commendable.”
Bishop Christopher Omotunde, Anglican Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, in his sermon, urged the lawyers to allow the spirit of God, as well as the fear of God, guide them in the discharge of their duty, saying whatever anyone sows, he would reap.
My address will be brief but it contains some truths that must be told. To every life, there is time and season. This is our time and season as leaders of the three arms of government in this state.
Despite all the challenges, our boat did not capsize. We are also in turbulent time financially as a state and a nation. But no matter how great the odds are, Ekiti will always have a leader. It is the duty of the leader to see that Ekiti comes first above all other considerations.
Such a leader will be expected to govern the people with the fear of God otherwise he will be referred to as a sectional leader.
Such a leader must also shun tribalism, religious and ethnic considerations, and above all consider politics as a tool and governance as service to the people. He must be seen to be just and equitable.
To me, to lead Ekiti in the right perspective is my priority.
I see a battle against an Ekiti man as a battle against all of us. The more reason why I advised senators from Ekiti not to oppose the approval of former Governor John Kayode Fayemi when being screened by the Senate as a minister. The swearing in of my Lord Justice Dele Omotoso as a judge was my first public assignment after inauguration in demonstration of my statemanship.
Equally, I appointed Mr Lawrence Babatope Ojo the then Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) as the Solicitor General despite all odds. The two gentlemen are both from the Bar.
I resisted entreaties from various quarters which wanted me to remove the Vice Chancellor of the Ekiti State University (EKSU) and the Provost of the College of Education, Ikere, simply because they were appointed by the Fayemi Administration.
Whereas, the likes of Professor Dipo Kolawole, Professor Bamidele and other senior officers of EKSU appointed by the PDP-led government were removed unjustly by the Fayemi Administration and till now, I have resisted pressures to tackle or remove some people including some judges over their ignoble roles in matters concerning me.
But I am not given to vengeance because vengeance belongs to God.
One thing is certain, the most potent power is one not used even though nothing stops you from using it.
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